Everest, Annapurna and Chitwan - 19 Days

Alpine Club of Himalaya Pvt. Ltd.

Combining the two most famous treks of Nepal with Nepal's premier wildlife habitat, the Chitwan National Park, this trip offers a huge variety of scenery, flora, fauna and culture. The colourful villages, rich forests and rushing mountain streams of the Annapurna region offer an interesting contrast to the higher starker Everest region, home to the Buddhist culture of the Sherpas and the highest mountain on earth. In this trip we see some of the world’s highest peaks, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Machhapuchhare, Annapurnaand Dhaulagiri.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrival KATHMANDU (1300m/4265ft)
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city. Meals: NO

Day 2 Acclimatize KATHMANDU
In the morning after breakfast, a trip orientation meeting will be organized and there will be a half day guided tour around Kathmandu valley. Kathmandu, being a historical and cultural heart of Nepal, is a popular destination for tourists, trekkers and adventure seekers. The city presents a wonderful mixture of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence in the Valley. In this tour we will see the glorious Newari architecture of old palace of Kathmandu Durbar Square and we will join the pilgrims around the enormous Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Stupa and then to the Nepal’s most important Hindu temple Pashupatinath temple that stands on the bank of the holy Bagmati river. Last minute shopping can also be done this day. Welcome dinner in the evening. Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner

Day 3 Fly to LUKLA (2800m/9187ft); trek to PHAKDING (2610m/8563ft) 2-3 hours trek; 200m descent, 50m ascent
We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla and set off on the first short trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi and then downwards into the forested valley. The trail crosses several tributary streams and we have some tantalising views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding where we spend our first night. Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 Trek to NAMCHE (3420m/11221ft) 5-6 hours/1000m ascent, 100m descent
Heading for the Namche Bazar, we cross through the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun that stays all the way with us in most of our trek. Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa and Monjo, we reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff abutting the Dudhkoshi river and further we make our way between the bluff to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO declared world heritage site. Completing halfway to Namche Bazar, we head for the second half of the march that would likely to take more time due to steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge and just before this bridge the Dudhkoshi is met by its tributary, the BhoteKoshi. Beginning the final steps uphill slowly we reach heights of Namche from where we can have first look at Mt. Everest, peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge and finally after about 1. 5km/0. 9mile) we reach Namche Bazar. Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 Acclimatize at NAMCHE; Trek to KHUMJUNG (3780m/12402ft); back to NAMCHE
We have an acclimatization day at Namche Bazar. To help our body better adapt to the high altitude, we can take short walks or climb few hundred feet during the day to have a look in the villages, houses, terraced fields and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu peak, Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru and the village’s big weekly event, the Saturday market to have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire. This day, we start the climb through the U shaped hillside above Namche from beside the Gompa. In the way we see several snowy peaks of Kwangde, Khumbila and Thamserku and Tagi Tau and Pharchamo, Tip of Ama Dablam and Taboche and we reach a sign posted intersection from where we move towards right hand for Khumjung. Walking past a large chorten and a long mani wall, we reach a viewpoint to Everest “THE Everest VIEW HOTEL” for lunch, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar ( East ) peak, besides Thamserku , Ama Dablam and Taboche and then path drops to Khumjung past the Hillary School. Khumjung is famous for its gompa that stands in a grove of cedar in the upper part of the village where there is an image of the Guru Padmasambhawa, who helped establish Buddhism in Tibet, flanked by his two consorts. Inside the gompa is preserved a skull that lamas believe is that of the yeti, but was disapproved by scientists in US. We return back to Namche for night stay. Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 Trek KHUMJUNG (3780m/12402ft)
This day, we start the climb through the U shaped hillside above Namche from beside the Gompa. In the way we see several snowy peaks of Kwangde, Khumbila and Thamserku and Tagi Tau and Pharchamo, Tip of Ama Dablam and Taboche and we reach a sign posted intersection from where we move towards right hand for Khumjung. Walking past a large chorten and a long mani wall, we reach a viewpoint to Everest, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar (East) peak, besides Thamserku , Ama Dablam and Taboche and then path drops to Khumjung past the Hillary School. Khumjung is famous for its gompa that stands in a grove of cedar in the upper part of the village where there is an image of the Guru Padmasambhawa, who helped establish Buddhism in Tibet, flanked by his two consorts. Inside the gompa is preserved a skull that lamas believe is that of the yeti, but was disapproved by scientists in US. Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 Trek to TENGBOCHE (3870m/12697ft
As we head out of Khumjung, we can see Tengboche with its great monastery perched on a ridge, straight ahead. We climb rapidly down the stepped Tengboche path, descending through a forest of rhododendron and birch trees. The path eventually reaches Sanasa (3650m/12, 045ft), a major trail junction where the Khumjung road meets the main Namche-Tengboche trail. The region is rich in wildlife: trekkers often spot musk deer, herds of blue sheep and the taur (Himalayan goat). The trail now begins a long and zigzag descend from Tashinga that finally brings us level with Dudh Koshi at a small settlement of Phunki Tenga. This ascend to Tengboche from here is surely the toughest climb on the trail so far taking about 2-3 hours. Finally after a bend, we can view the peak of Kangtegaa(6783m/22, 383ft). As we climb further, a kaani gateway suddenly appears that means we have reached Tengboche. The Tengboche meadow is dominated by its monastery, one of Nepal’s largest. Tengboche’s fabled scenic beauty will take our breath away. The mountain panorama includes the entire gamut of lower and middle Khumbu peaks-Kangtega, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Taboche, Kwangde, and Tengkangboche-besides the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge on the northeast with Everest just visible. This place can be best visited during Mani rimbu Festival in autumn when mask dances are held in front of the monastery for three Days. Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Trek back NAMCHE
From Tengboche, we retrace our steps down to Phunki Tenga, and then climb the ridge towards Namche Bazaar. Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 Trek back LUKLA
Descending through Namche Bazaar, we pick up the trail again, following the Dudh Kosi south through rhododendron and pine forests, past Jorsale, Monzo and Benkar to Chaunrikhara. Here we leave the main trail and climb the short distance to the small airstrip of Lukla. Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 Fly back KATHMANDU
Fly back from Lukla to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 Drive to POKHARA; Drive to NAYAPUL & Walk to BIRETHANTI
We depart Kathmandu early in the morning and head towards Pokhara. After leaving The Kathmandu valley we head westwards along the Trisuli Valley. We get superb views of the mountains as we follow the river to Mugling. Continuing we stop for lunch in one of the roadside cafes before reaching Pokhara. A short drive brings us to the road head at Naya Pul, from where it is a short walk to Birethanthi, a large prosperous village. Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 Trek to GHOREPANI (2750m/9023ft)
Following the trail through main streets of Birethanti, winding through bamboo forests and past a large waterfall and swimming hole we reach Sudami beyond a pasture used by caravans. We climb steadily up the side of the valley to reach Hille and about 15 minutes above Hille is the Tikhedhunga. Crossing the Tikhedhunga Khola on a suspension bridge, the trail drops and crosses the Bhurungdi Khola on a large bridge at 1520m. The trail climbs very steeply on a stone staircase that is said to have more than 3300 steps which continue to the large Magar village of Ulleri (2080m) and climbing gently through the pastures and cultivated fields the trail makes its way to deep forests to reach a hamlet of Banthanti. Crossing the magnificent oak and rhododendron forests the trail passes through two sparkling clear streams, a small ridge and another stream before making final climb to another Magar village of Nangathanti (2460m). About an hour past this village we reach Ghorepani where we can see eight different species of Nepal’s national flower rhododendron in the hillsides below Ghorepani. Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 Trek to POON HILL (3210m/10532ft); Trek to TADAPANI (2710m/8892ft)
After about an hours climb in the morning we reach Poon Hill which is a viewpoint for the spectacular Himalayan panorama extending from Dhaulagiri to Annapurna to Machhapuchhre; that stretches from Dhaulagiri I ( 8167m) and Tukuche (6920m) to Nilgiri (6940m), Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8091m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Tarke Kang (7193m). Climbing just a little further beyond the viewpoint, the trail descends a bit and then goes through series of ups and downs through the forest of bamboo, rhododendron and birch to reach a hamlet of Deurali which also has a viewpoint tower some 200m/660ft above the hamlet. Beyond Deurali, crossing through the slippery stretches we reach a stream and taking the path above the stream. Crossing the bridge over the stream we climb steep stone steps with iron railings and reach the hamlet of Banthanti. The path drops steeply down now through the dense forests and crossing the bridge in the stream climb steep stone steps to reach Tadapani which offers an excellent ringside view of the entire region with a ring of mountains. Meals: Breakfast

Day 14 Trek to GHANDRUK (1970m/6464ft); 2-3 hours, 720m descent
The Ghandruk trail descends steeply through forests to Bhaisi Kharka from where we take the right hand trail that makes a short steep descent among rocks to a stream crossing, and then leads out on a ridge towards Ghandruk. The trail reaches the top of top of Ghandruk and descends on stone steps into the maze of the village itself. Ghandruk is the second largest Gurung settlement in Nepal framed by outstanding views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Meals: Breakfast

Day 15 Trek to NAYAPUL 3-4 hours; 1000m descent; Drive to POKHARA
We take the main trail that leads to south dropping at first on a staircase, and then traversing high above the river on a stone paved trail. We cross a stream at Chane (1690m) and continue to Kimche (1640m) and follow the ridge downhill to join the Modi Khola at Syauli bazaar (1140m). From here on the walking is flat and following the river valley through a lovely birch forest and rice terraces we reach Birethanti. Now walking 30 minutes on a rough and rocky road takes us to Nayapul from where we drive back to Pokhara. Meals: Breakfast

Day 16 Drive to CHITWAN
After breakfast we head west to Chitwan National park, one of the best managed parks in the world, which is approximately 160km and takes 4-5 hours from Pokhara. We enjoy lunch at a lodge and participate in various jungle activities such as an elephant safari, jungle drive and a nature walk. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 17 CHITWAN
For watching wildlife, birds and the rare species of flora and fauna we can either go for Jungle Safari deep into the park in a four wheel jeep or on walk or choose an altogether relaxing way on a canoeing trip on the Rapti or Narayani Rivers or by elephant riding which is much thrilling rather than comfortable. Moreover, we can head for exploring surrounding Tharu villages. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18 Drive back KATHMANDU
After breakfast we drive back to Kathmandu arriving in the afternoon. Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Day 19 Fly back HOME or extend your HOLIDAYS
If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, mountain biking, Tibet, India or Bhutan tours etc. Meals: Breakfast

TRIP COST INCLUDES:

1. All domestic flights and hotel/airport transfer by private vehicles.
2. Hotel Encounter or similar standard hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast.
3. All accommodation and breakfast during the trip and all meals in Chitwan tour.
4. Welcome & Farwell dinner.
5. All costs including salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging for leaders, Sherpa, assistant trek leaders and porters.
6. All entry fees for sightseeing.
7. All ground transport in private vehicles.
8. Down jacket and seasonal sleeping bags.
9. All necessary paper work and permits.
10. A comprehensive medical kit.
11. Portable Altitudes Chamber (PAC) for safety measure.
12. All government and local taxes.
13. Alpine club kit bag.

TRIP COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

1. Nepal entry visa fees.
2. International airfare and airport departure tax.
3. Bar bills and laundry.
4. Travel insurance including evacuation.
5. Lunch and dinner except welcome and farewell meals and in Chitwan Tour
6. All optional additional tours or activities in your extended holidays.
7. Tips for local staffs, guides and porters.
8. All other expenses that are not mentioned in Price Includes section.